Political Science

Drought, growing environmental constraint and mounting ecological crisis of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta are the variety of reasons for California State Legislature to pass a water package of 11.1 billion worth of bonds to fund programs addressing the said pressing issues.
California is perhaps the only Western State that does not regulate and monitor groundwater usage. The problem on deltas restoration, which has long been overdue, has now been given resolution. According to the article, when Senate finally made its mind, it ended up years of failed attempts to confront the states growing water problems. As Assembly member Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael) had said that its been queued up for a while. It just took a number of things to put pressure on to get it done.
For Senate Pro Tem Darell Steinberg (D-Sacramento), he pointed this out as an achievement as for This Legislature has accomplished something . . . that the Legislature hasnt accomplished in decades.
The bond sets aside approximately 3 billion for new storage and 2 billion for the restoration and renovation of the ecosystem in the delta. It would also fund groundwater cleanup and recycling which is important to Southern California as well as fund the Salton Sea preservation and watershed projects in the areas of Los Angeles and San Gabriel Rivers.
The bill includes a program to measure groundwater elevations, but it does not force private property owners to provide monitoring information to the state or to local water agencies.
Moreover, the bill sets a goal of limiting and reducing overall urban per capita water use by a fifth by 2020. However, agencies that fail to meet the quota would not be eligible for state water grants and loans.
Accordingly, lawmakers made sure that ample measures were taken into consideration through dealing and thoroughly discussing important issues such as urban water conservation, groundwater monitoring and the management of Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, which is the center of the states collapsing complex plumbing system.
According to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, I am so proud that the Legislature, Democrats and Republicans, came together and tackled one of the most complicated issues in our states history This comprehensive water package is an historic achievement.
On the other hand, some were not convinced about the package. Before the round-up votes, many of the packages provisions were weakened and last minute amendments were made. This has been done to accumulate support and get the necessary two-third votes from the legislature. Importantly, a provision was removed particularly the 10 million fund for a Sacramento nonprofit associated with Steinberg that offers watershed and urban-greening for students.
As a sign of his disapproval to the continuance of the bill, Assemblyman Chuck DeVore (R-Irvine) . . . believes this measure has been so bulked up with pork its going to sink.
Active conservation groups such as the Sierra Club and Friends of the River have fought against the bill along with its numerous provisions. Accordingly, the water package is too heavy a burden to the states taxpayers.
Sen. Lois Wolk (D-Davis) is likewise skeptic about this especially on providing solution to the problem. He said that the real solution is taking less water from the delta.
It is to believe that through the new delta council it only leads to construction of a freeway-sized canal on the deltas edge which can be bad for land and livelihoods as well, which is mainly dependent on the irrigation that they have right now.
    But more importantly, this bill has indeed brought up into surface once again the division and antagonism between the Northern and Southern parts of California which mainly tainted the water politics for years.
    The Democratic Latino Caucus along with the Republicans joined together to push the major bond. However, other Democrats and public employee mainly complain about the debt service it may generate, which amounts up to 600 million a year. In turn, it would further weaken the states general fund and the states delivery of services.
     But given the variety of reactions solicited from different actors and entities, still, the voice of the citizens of the State of California will have the last say considering they will be the one who will vote for this next November. As when it comes to legislators, we may or may not know what drives them especially when we talk about pork barrel and to know they have different perspective on the issue, as such, the challenge for the voters is to be vigilant and know the issues very well in order to have a good quality of votes for they will be directly affected of the provisions such as the imposition of taxes, the quality of states services rendered to them